Plaque bombardment August 18, 1944 - Namur

This plaque was inaugurated on August 18, 2014, 70 years after the events.

She recalls the heavy bombing by the Americans at 6:06 PM that day. During 21 minutes , 213 bombs were accidentally released in the center of Namur.

The impact is still visible on the facades of the surrounding buildings.

At least 330 people were killed, as well as hundreds injured.

Rtbf.be: It is 6 p.m. on August 18, 1944. Despite the German occupation, Namur is teeming with people. The inhabitants of Namur, impoverished by the war, try to live a normal life. The children playing outside are not even frightened by the distant sound of planes arriving over the city. On the contrary, people go out to see the Allied planes. Richard Dessart, local historian, explains this paradox: "There had been no bombings since May, so every time there was an alarm, people were no longer afraid." American bombers are closing in. But this time there will indeed be a bombardment: “ The American army focuses on the Luxembourg bridge to delay the escape of the German army. But the bridge will not be hit and more than 200 bombs of 500 kg each will fall. on the city center.

The streets Place d'Armes, St-Nicolas, de Fer, Émile Cuvelier and Julie Billart are affected. Namur lies under the rubble. A monumental mistake by the Allies that they hardly dared to criticize at the time. There was a certain taboo, especially for people from the city center. They had been liberated by the Americans, but they were also the ones who had caused the most civilian damage. So a certain love-hate relationship developed and for years people commemorated the bombing of August 18, trying not to say it was the Americans.

Willem Vandenameele